Electrical quick-break switch



Feb. 25, 1969 H. EHRENBERG ELECTRICAL QUICK BREAK SWITCH Filed Aug. 25,1966 United States Patent Us; (:1. 335-205 Int. (:1. Htllh 1/12, 9/54Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electric quick-break switch with amagnetic contact-making device, in which a switch magnet pivotable aboutan axle effects a contact member pivotable in the same plane as that ofthe switch magnet and disposed at the end face of the magnet.

The known structures of such electrical quick-break switches havedrawbacks as to their manufacture and as to their function. In additionto the switch magnet, another magnet is provided at the contact member,which responds to the magnetic field of the switch magnet. Thestructures are thereby very expensive as to their manufacture and alsounfavorable as to their mounting. In addition, the drawback occurs that,in spite of the two magnets operating upon each other, no satisfactoryquickbreak switching of the contact member can be obtained, the latterin particular owing to the stray field of the two magnets leading alsoto the start of the reversal procedure.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an electricalquick-break switch, wherein, in spite of its simple structure,nevertheless, performs an absolutely instantaneous quick-breakswitching.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an electricalquick-break switch, wherein a U-shaped contact member, pivoted at itsU-peak is directed with its narrow edged end faces towards the switchingmagnet, and with its wide faces pointing to contact-and abutmentpins,forms the contact places.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anelectrical quick-break switch, wherein the distance between the U-legmembers of the contact member is adjustable.

It is, furthermore, another object of the present invention to providean electrical quick-break switch, wherein a set screw projects throughthe U-leg members, which set screw carries a pressure spring, the endsof which engage the inner faces of the U-leg members.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electricalquick-break switch, wherein the peak of the U-shaped contact members isformed to a bearing eye, which surrounds a bearing bolt of the contactmember connected with a connecting clamp.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide anelectrical quick-break switch, wherein the two outside disposed widefaces of the contact member are equipped with a contact rib which formswith its round formation disposed laterally from its peak, the contactpoint.

In view of the structure set forth above, according to the presentinvention, an electrical quick-break switch is produced which istechnically economical to manufacture and also preferred as to its use,which quick-break switch constitutes to the greatest extent aninstantaneous quickbreak switch. One single switch magnet is merelyrequired. The latter works in the small edged end face of the U-shapedcontact member. The corresponding bundles of the magnetic field towardsthe engaging face of the contact member provide a sufficiently highcontact pressure and the desired instantaneous reversal by displacementof the contact member.

The adjustment of the distance between the U-leg members renderspossible thereby, in the simplest manner, the instantaneous reversaltiming. The special mounting of the U-shaped contact member inconnection with the fact, that the bearing bolt of the contact memberitself provides the current feeding, permits the structure to beappreciably simplified. The ribs on the outer wide faces of the legmembers of the U-shaped contact member bring about favorable contactfaces, particularly a favorable appreciable contact pressure. The fact,that the round formations of the ribs disposed laterally from their peakform the contact points, causes resulting from the magnetic pullingforce, simultaneously also an increased pulling effect on the U-shapedcontact member. This pulling effect assures, even considering a certainplay between I the bearing bolts of the contact members and the bearingeye of the contact members, a good contact with a low transmissionresistance.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent in thefollowing detailed description, the present invention will be clearlyunderstood in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-section of the quick-break switch showing a firstembodiment thereof;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the quick-break switch, its cover beingremoved for the purpose of a better demonstration;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the switch socket;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of a secondembodiment of the operation mechanism; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the showing in FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawing, the quick-break switch comprises a socket1 in which are secured the contact carriers 2, 3 and 4, which are formedsimultaneously as cable connecting clamps. The contact 2 is formed as abearing bolt 5. It carries a contact member 6. The latter is of U-shapeand is produced of a material having magnetic characteristics. The peakof the U-shaped contact member 6 is formed to a bearing eye. The latterassures the necessary ready pivoting for the contact member 6 by meansof an intermediate sleeve 22.

The U-leg member 6' and 6" are equipped at their outside disposed widefaces with contact ribs 7 and 8, respectively. The latter have asemi-cylindrical cross-section and cooperate with cylindricalcontact-and abutment-pins 9 and 10, respectivcely. The latter are a partof the contact carriers 3 and 4. Sleeves 26 are mounted on the pins 9and 10, respectively.

In a position opposite to the contact member 6 is disposed a spindle 12.The latter is mounted in the socket 1 and in a cover 11. A section ofthe spindle 12 emerges from the cover 11 and is formed as a handle. Thespindle 12 is pressed towards a shoulder 14 by means of a pressurespring 13, which shoulder 14 serves as an upper limiting abutment.

A magnet holder 16 is secured on the spindle 12. The magnet holder 16carries a permanent magnet 17 directed towards the narrow edged endfaces 6" and 6" of the contact member 6.

The spindle 12 is designed, in accordance with the showing of FIG. 1, asa splined shaft. The lower spindle section guides itself in a guideplate 15 retained in the socket 1 and formed complementary to theconfiguration of the spindle 12. The spindle 12 is, thus, safe againstrotation. While, in the lower range of the spindle 12, the wedges runparallel to the spindle axis, the upper Wedge sections are changed toform a turn. The magnet holder 16 has likewise a guide plate 18 equippedwith corresponding grooves and has likewise a configurationcomplementary to the spindle 12.

If the spindle 12 is pushed downwardly against the effect of thepressure spring 13, the magnet holder 16 performs a rotary movementabout the spindle 12 from its original position a to the switchedposition b. By the change of positions occurring thereby of thepermanent magnet 17, the contact member 6 is moved by attracting thecorresponding end face by this magnet. In the present case, the contactcarriers 2 and 3 are closed. -If the pressure on the spindle 12 isreleased and the spring 13 is discharged, the latter pushes the spindle12 back until it reaches the abutment 1 4. The magnet holder 16 returnsfrom the position b to the position a. The contact carriers 2 and 4 areclosed.

The contact ribs 7 and '8 disposed on the outside arranged wide faces ofthe U-legs 6 and 6" are set off from the direction of movement relativeto the contact-and abutment-pins 9 and 10. The contact ribs 7 and 8 formaccordingly with the roundings 7 and 8' disposed laterally from its peakthe contact points, so that during any abutment a section between thecontacts is created, through which the finest melting scars are smoothedout with each contact closure. The set otf contact ribs 7 and 8 cause,jointly with the magnetic force, the contact member 6 to engage rigidlythe bearing pin of the contact member 6 along a line. Thus, a linecontact between all contact points is obtained.

The contact member 6 is furthermore equipped with a set screw 19 bywhich the distance of the U-legs 6 and 6 of the switching member 6 canbe varied. The set screw 19 projects thereby through both U-members 6and 6" of the contact member 6. It carries a pressure spring 29, theends of which engage the inner faces of the U- le-gs 6' and 6". A nut 33of the set screw 19 is secured against rotation, due to the Z-shapedangular arrangement of the U-legs 6". By adjustment of the distances ofthe end faces, the switching time point can be varied. This can be ofadvantage, for instance, if a plurality of switches are to be set to thesame time operation. Such adjustment does not interfere with the easyswinging movement of the contact member 6 on the bearing pin 5,particularly due to the intermediate position of the sleeve 22.

For the avoidance of larger friction faces for the contact member 6,also in the radial direction, a spacer member 23 is formed on the cover11.

For their attachment, the contact carriers 2, 3 and 4 are equipped witha threaded section for holding nuts 25.

A holding screw 27 anchored in the socket 1 projects through the cover11 for the application of a holding nut 28.

The receiving bore for the spindle 12 can be covered by means of a cover30, which is secured to the socket 1 by means of a screw bolt 31. Thecover 30 provides simultaneously the lower limit for the axialdisplacement of the spindle 12 and the spring bearing for the pressurespring 13.

Bores 34 and 35 serve the purpose of securing the quickbreak switch.

Referring now again to the drawing, and in particular to FIGS. 4 and 5,an operating mechanism is disclosed, which constitutes a secondembodiment of the quickbreak switch.

On the spindle 12' which is equipped with grooves parallel to thelongitudinal axis, there is disposed a switching lever 20 arranged atany chosen angle about the spindle axis, which switch lever 20 renderspossible the operation of the switch from any selected horizontaldirection. The switching lever 20 is forked on the spindle side and isequipped with a clamping screw 32 which permits a radial and axialadjustment of the switching lever 20.

. A ring hook spring 21, one end of which is hooked in the socket 1 andthe other end of which is hooked in the magnet holder 16, maintains themagnet holder 16 in its original position.

The spindle 12 supports itself in accordance with the second embodimentdirectly on the cover 30.

While I have disclosed several embodiments of the present invention, itis to be understood that these embodiments are given by example only andnot in a limiting sense, the scope of the present invention beingdetermined by the objects and the claims.

I claim:

1. An electric quick break switch, comprising a socket,

a switch magnet pivotally mounted about an axis on said socket,

a contact member made of a material which is itself magneticallyattracted, and disposed adjacent an end face of said switch magnet andpivotable in the same plane as the swinging plane of said switch magnet,

said contact member being substantially of U-shape and including aU-peak defining a bearing eye and two leg members having end faces,

said contact member pivotally mounted at said bearing eye on said socketand said end faces pointing toward said switch magnet,

said switch magnet being operatively disposed adjacent said contactmember, said switch magnet adapted to attract at least one of said twoleg members of said contact member,

contact pins including clamping means, adapted to secure wires thereto,mounted in said socket, and

said leg members of said contact member having wide faces for engagementalternately with said contact pins for opening and closing electriccircuits.

2. The electrical quick break switch, as set forth in claim 1, whichincludes means for adjusting the distance between said leg members ofsaid contact member.

3. The electrical quick break switch, as set forth in claim 1 whichincludes a set screw extending through said leg members, and

a pressure spring surrounding said set screw and the ends of saidpressure spring engaging the inner faces of said leg members.

4. The electrical quick break switch, as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid U-shaped contact member has a peak formed as a bearing eye,

a bearing bolt mounted in said contact member and connected with saidwire clamping means, and

said bearing eye surrounding said bearing bolt.

5. The electrical quick break switch, as set forth in claim 1, whichincludes a contact rib having a round portion disposed laterally of itspeak and arranged on each of said outside disposed wide faces of saidcontact member, and said round portion constituting contact points.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1957 Crissinger 335-207 9/1966Wales 335-207

